Automatic low water gas shutoff



Sept. 23, 1952 R. c. POSSLEY 2,611,273

AUTOMATIC LOW WATER GAS SHUTOFF Filed April 6, 1945 79w 'apassLa-"y Patented Sept. 23, 1952 11' :51;

Ray C. Possley, Mendota, Ill. p ucetionn rii s, 194s, ser;i a1nu,'5ss,9so

This invention relates to an automatic low water gas shut-cit, which isespecially adapted to completely cut off the flow of gas in a gas line, or the like, when pressure upon the control diaphragm falls below a predetermined degree.

A further object of this invention is the production of a simple and efiicient means for automatically disconnecting the control link for the shut-off valve in a manner whereby the weight of the actuating link and the falling of the link away from the diaphragm-actuating mechanism will cause the valve to completely close.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the matic shut-off;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view, the ating link being broken away;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the cut-ofi valve; and

Figure 4 is a plan view of the abutment pin.

By referring to the drawing, it will be seen that I designates the casing of the actuating mechanism which carries a diaphragm II. The casing III- is provided with a threaded inlet neck I2 which is adapted to be connected to a line supplying pressure such as steam, or the like, to the diaphragm II. An abutment pin I3 is secured to the diaphragm II by means of a nut I4 which is threaded upon the inner end ofthe pin I3 and engages the rear face of the diaphragm II. An abutment flange I5 engages the front face of the diaphragm II to clamp the pin I3 in fixed engagement with the diaphragm II. The pin I3 is slidably mounted through the bearing plate I6 of the casing I0 and a spring I3 abuts the plate I6 at one end and the diaphragm I I at its opposite end to draw the pin l3 inwardly when pressure is relieved from the diaphragm II.

The abutment pin I3 is provided with a rounded forward end which abuts against the rear face of the angle lever I1, which lever I1 is pivotally connected to the casing Iii, as at I8, and is adapted to operate a suitable type of valve control mechanism, one example of which is set forth in the following description. The lever I1 is provided with a protruding end I9 which extends horizontally when in an operative position and when the diaphragm II is in the position shown in full lines and when the diaphragm is subjected to pressure. This protruding end I9 projects through the slot 20 formed in the casing I0 and is rounded transversely as is clearly shown in acturoiai rial-12; 1 t. j

1. The casing III is provided with a vertical abutment wall I0, against" which abutment wall; lllctheverticalportion of the lever II abuts for the full length of said vertical portion under pressure of the abutment pin I3 and diaphragm II. This pressure will hold the lever I! in a set clamped position against the wall III to support the link 2I until pressure is relieved from the diaphragm II.

An actuating link 2I is provided with an eye or loop 22 at one end which loosely fits over the protruding end I9 of the lever I! when in an operative position. The opposite end of the link 2| is pivotally connected to the valve 24. The valve 24 is carried by the supply line 25 for supplying gas, fuel oil or the like, to a suitable burner or other apparatus through the pipe 26.

The operation of the device is as follows:

As the pressure within the casing I 0 falls below a predetermined degree the diaphragm II will move from the full line position to the dotted line position, the spring I3"- pushing the diaphragm to the extended position when pressure is relieved from the diaphragm. The actuating rod I5 will at that time pull the bell crank lever I! from the full line to the dotted line position shown in Figure '1, and the eye 22 of the link 2I will slip from the protruding end I9. The weight of the link 2 I will cause the arm 23 of the valve 24 to swing from the full line to the dotted line position, thereby completely cutting'ofi the flow of fuel through the valve 24 from the pipe 25 to the pipe 25. This will provide a positive shut-off for the valve, and the connection between the operating mechanism and the valve will be definitely disconnected. The valve will not again be opened until the link 2| is manually attached to the protruding arm by an operator.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a very simple and efficient means has been provided for definitely disconnecting the actuating mechanism from the valve-operating mechanism at a predetermined time or under predetermined conditions in a manner whereby the valve 24 will be completely and definitely closed.

Itshould be understood that certain detail changes in the construction of the device may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, so long as such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, claimed is:

A bell crank actuating means comprising a casing, a vertical abutment wall carried by said casing, an angle lever pivotally-secured at one what is- 3 end to said casing adjacent the abutment wall and having a substantially vertical portion adapted to abut said abutment wall for the full length of the substantially vertical portion to limit the swing of said lever in one direction, said lever having a protruding end, a releasable link having an eye removably fitted over said protruding end, said protruding end normally extending in a substantially horizontal position beyond said abutment wall and said link being adapted to be releasably suspended by said protruding end, an abutment pin frictionally engaging said vertical portion of said lever for holding said vertical portion in a set clamped position against said abutment wall, and an actuating means for said pin for releasing the pin from engagement with the lever to facilitate the swings ing of the horizontal portion of the lever downwardly and to thereby automatically release said releasable link from saidnlever and to cause said link to fall of its. own weight from Said protrudingeiid of said lever by the pull of gravity;

' V RAY C..POSSLEY;

4 REFERENCES orran The following references are or record in the file of this patent:

6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 667,963 Vail Feb. 12, 1901 864,236 Fairbanks Aug. 27, 1907 1,060,336 r Gillispie "-1 Apr. 29, 1913 10 1,187,135. Derby ;I V....- June 13, 1916 1,677,729 Sams July 17, 1928 1,958,143 Howard May 8, 1934 2,174,969 Collings Oct. 3, 1939 2,327,055 McMahon Aug. 17, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 'IIu'mber- Country Date 195,963 Great Britain Jan. 28, 1915 480,281 Germany 1 July 31, 1929 120,509 Germany Dec. 27. 1930 

